IN his capacity as the national team chief of mission to the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez and Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will sit down this afternoon to talk about the national contingent’s buildup and participation in the sportsfest less than four months away.
The talks come two days after Vietnamese hosts met with the national chiefs of mission of 11 participating countries online to discuss the details and mechanics involved in the regional meet scheduled May 12 to 23 in the capital of Hanoi and neighboring areas.
Expected to be discussed are the return to actual training of the 626 athletes plus their respective coaches, as well as the actual expense involved in taking part in the meet.
Fernandez reiterated that only P121 million is available for the country’s participation in the sportsfest: 50 million from the Department of Budget and Management plus P71 million left over from the P200 million earmarked for training of the national campaigners for the SEA Games last year.
Fernandez said this amount would barely be enough to cover the Philippine contingent that will exceed 1,000, including coaches, officials and other personnel who will be going to the competition.
There is also the possibility the PSC would not fund the national team to the Vietnam Games at all. PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez had warned this could happen if pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association fail to settle their differences.
Ramirez has implored Obiena to agree to a mediation, which the Patafa has already agreed to, under PSC supervision in a private and confidential manner as a means to settle his liquidation problems with the government sports agency.
Until yesterday, Obiena, who is set to receive financial assistance from the PSC for his minor knee surgery, has not indicated whether he would agree to the mediation process.
